
ADDKESS 

DELIVERED AT THE FIRST 

itllilM aiilfiflS! 

■1 B IBIf olla H™ H! BH Mf w HE 1IJ ¡B5P HP Ha BH Bil H 
OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE 




Thurston $ Co. Prs. Porüán^^)^^ 




j I 

I! k' 

I P, 




AN 

ADDEESS, 

DE LI VERE D AT BUXTON, MAINE, 

IN THE CONGREGATIONAL MEETING-HOUSE, 
BEING THB 

FIRST CENTENNIAL CELEBR ATION 

OF THE 

SETTLEMENT OF THIS TOWN. 
BY REV. NATHANIEL WEST WILLIAMS. 



1850. 




PRINTED BY THÜRSTON & CO.: 

PORTLAKD, MAINE. 

1850. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Committee of Arrangements tender their thanks to the Rev. N. W. 

Williams, for the truly able and appropriate address delivered before the 

citizens of Buxton, on the 17th instant, it being the first Centennial Anniver- 

sary of the settlement of this town, and request a copy of the same for the 

prese. CHARLES WATTS, 

SAMUEL DUNNELL, 
DANIEL APPLETON, 
ABEL MERRILL, 
A. L. CAME, 
GERRY ROUNDS, JR. 

Buxton, October 26, 1850. 



Buxton, October 30, 1850. 

Gentlemen : — 

Your request of the 26th instant, for the publication of my Address on the 
Centennial Celebration of the settlement of Buxton, has been received. In 
reply, I observe that, if to preserve a connected history of past events relat- 
ing to the origin and progress of this town be desirable, the manuscript is at 
your serviee. Grateful for the honor you have done me by your appoint- 
ment and the expression of your satisfaction with my labor, I subscribe, 
With great respect, 

Your obed't Servant, 

N. W. WILLIAMS. 

To Charles Watts, Esa., Samuel Dunnell, Daniel Appleton, Abel Mer- 
rill, A. L. Came, Gerry. Rounds, Jr., Committee of Arrangements. 



3 



ADDRESS. 



Frienus and Fellow Citizens: 

The occasion of our assembling within these hallowed 
walls to-day, is the expiration of the hundredth year since 
the foot-prints of our fathers were impressed upon this soil. 
It is one of those rare occasions, in which the whole popula- 
tion of the town has a common interest. It is to celébrate 
an event, interesting in its reminiscences, important in its re- 
sults to the immediate aetors, to the generations intervening. 
and to the generations yet to come. It is to contémplate by 
a succinct review, the prominent events of a century pasí, 
to consider the character and deeds of our fathers, and, as it 
were. to associate and hold intercourse with the departed 
dead. 

The occasion may justly be improved to excite sympathy 
for their privations, thankfulness for their success in prepar- 
ing and laying the foundation of our present prosperity, ven- 
eration for their religión, for the laws which they enacted, 
for the sobriety of their lives, and for their love of civil and 
religious liberty. May the allwise and infinite Being who 
raised np and supported our worthy ancestors in planting 
this town, enable us to copy all the virtues which they ex- 
hibited, to preserve unimpaired the blessings transmiíted to 
us; and when we depart this life, to leave to our posterity 
whatever good we have received, with such examples, as 
shall reflect honor upon our ñames, illustrate the advantages 
of rational freedom, and induce them to hand downthe same, 
unsullied and undiminished, to their rising progeny. 



4 



As an inland place, the inhabitants of which have been 
employed, chiefly in the peaceful and quiet business of hus- 
bandry, no very great and startling events are to be antici- 
pated in its past history. Yet it may be observed, that we 
cannot stand here to-day, and take a retrospect of a hundred 
years, without discovering a number of interesting events 
and transactions, well worth our remembrance ; and adapted 
by their recollection to beneñt ourselves and those who may 
succeed us. 

The history of wars and battles is often employed to rouse 
the imagination and give an imposing splendor to the char- 
acter of a nation. 

The youth of our country should be taught to consider 
the conflicts and carnage of the battl e-fiel d, as the deplora- 
ble results of pride and ambition, or, as the pursuits of bar- 
barians, to be deplored. rather than emulated; as in fine, 
excresences on the body politic. 

The most valuable, because the most useful lessons in his- 
tory, are those which relate to the progress of civilization, 
the expansión of intellect, and the promotion of moráis. 

Such is the nature of the history that we would pursue 
on this Centennial Celebration. 

The day on which the permanent settlement of this town- 
ship was commenced, is not known ; but it is known to have 
occurred in the autumn of 1750, and is believed to have oc- 
curred about this time. 

The settlement of New England, owes its origin to a train 
of peculiar providences, directed by an infinitely wise mind ; 
allof which tended to bring about events, adapted to the es- 
tablishment of a government and religión, upon the basis of 
rational freedom and scriptural principies. 

The disco very of the New World, in 1492, by Columbus, 
and of the coast of Labrador and Newfoundland in 1496-7, 
by the Cabots, together with the "wild New England coast," 
were events, pregnant with the greatest consequences to the 
English nation, and to their unborn posterity. 



5 



" No attempt was made for more than a hundred years 
after that period, to eífect a permanent settlement. A long 
dark night, settleddown upon this vast unexplored continent. 

" Toward the cióse of the sixteenth century, Sir Humph- 
rey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh, undertook, each, an ex- 
pedition : the one to Newfoundland, the other, for the discov- 
ery of lands north of Florida, both of which proved disas- 
trous. The French were equally unsuccessful in their 
attempts; so that not a single European family was planted 
on the coast, imtil the commeneeraent of the seventeenth 
century. This vast and dreary solitude, says Mr. George 
Folsom, was first broken on the border of this State, by the 
French Colony of De Mont, who passed the winter of 1603-4, 
on the ísland St. Croix, in the waters which sepárate Maine 
from New Brunswick." 

Up to this time, the navigation of the Atlantic Ocean had 
been regarded with terror, for a major part of the year. But 
repeated voyages of European fishermen to Newfoundland, 
dispelled those fears and encouraged adventurers to the north- 
eastern coast of this continent. 

The spirit of colonization, which had declined, was reviv- 
ed about the same period; and Captain George Weymouth, 
discovered the Penobscot bay and river. A very interesting 
and important circumstance of his voyage was, that on his 
return to England, he took with him five of the native Indi- 
ans, belonging to the Penobscot tribe, three of whom he com- 
mitted to the care of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Governor of 
Plymouth. From those Indians, he gained much informa- 
ron, respecting the country lying between the Pemaquid and 
Sagadahock* rivers, islands and harbors. 

In 1616, Sir Ferdinando sent from England a party, under 
the command of Captain Richard Vines, on an exploring ex- 
pedition. Captain Vines penetrated into the interior, and 
secured a pleasant and safe understanding with all the Sa- 

* Penobscot and Kennebec. 



• 



chems, and their people. and trafficked to good advantage. 

Some that were "husbandmen, took np tracks of land of 
a hundred acres, each, upon rent merely nominal." Some 
of these are on record. A specimen may be presented as a 
cnriosity. 

11 An estáte that had been in the possession of Thos. Colé, 
including a mansión or dwelling house, was leased by Capt. 
fines to John West, for the term of a thousand years, for the 
annual rent of two shillings and one capón, a previous con- 
sideraron having been paid by West. The léase, which is 
partly in the Latín language, was executed in 1638. Another 
deed from Vines, requires the lessee, for a similar tract, 
to pay an annual rent of five shillings sterling, two days' 
work and one fat goose, yearly. In this manner, all plant- 
ers, were tenants to the proprietors, no one holding an estáte 
in fee simple." * 

As showing the labors and hardships of first settlers in a 
new country, a fact may be related respecting Mr. Levett's 
exploration of the coast, from the "Isle of Shoulds" on 
which he first landed, to the Sagadahock river. "About four 
leagues east fronl Cape Porpoise, he says, there is another 
harbor called Sawco. Before we could recover that harbor, 
I lost one of my men, and a great fog or mist took us, that 
we could not see a hundred yards. Perceiving the fog to 
come from the sea, I called for a compass and set the Cape 
land, by which we knew how to steer our course, which was 
no sooner done, than we lost sight of the land and my other 
boat. The wind blew fresh against us, so that instead of 
sails, we had to resort to our oars, which we used with all 
the wit and strength we had, but could by no means recover 
the shore. Being embayed and compassed with breaks 
which roared in a most frightful manner, we took counsel, 
what to do to save our lives. At length, I caused our kiliick, 
which was all the anchor we had, to be cast forth, and one 



* Folsom's Hist., New England Gaz. 



7 



man continually to hold bis hand upon the rood or cable, by 
which we knew whether our anchor held or no; whichbeing 
done, we commended ourselves to God by prayer and put on 
a resolution to be as comfortable as we could, and so fell to 
our victuals. Thus we spent the night, and the next morn- 
ing, we got into Sawco, where I found my other boat." * 

Several attempts to settle uptfn the New England coast 
were made by Gosnold, Pring, De Mont, and the intrepid 
Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and the equally bold and adventur- 
ous Captain' John Smith.f But little was done, that could be 
regarded as a permanent settlement, upon the New England 
coast, till December 22, 1620, when the Pilgrims landed from 
the May-Flower, on the Rock of Plymouth, where nothing 
but barrenness, sterility and ice lay before them. That, how- 
ever, was not the locality which they had designed to occu- 
py. They had selected the beautiful situation, from which 
New York derives so many advantages, — the mouth of the 
Hudson river. But He whose ways are perfect, so overruled 
the intrigues of the Dutch, and the false-heartedness of the 
Captain of the May-Fiower, as to make their disappoint- 
ment and sufferings, the means of establishing a colony in 
New England, which was destined to become the most im- 
portant community, politically and religiously, which the 
world has ever known. 

The motives which prompted that noble band of exiles, 
were very unlike the motives which prompted the numerous 
adventurers, who had attempted to gain a footing upon our 
eastern coast. 

Those adventurers were prompted by the hope of gain. 
The Pilgrims, who were God-fearing men, exiled themselves 
from their native land, for the sake of religión, and "freedom 
to worship God," according to the Bible and the dictates of 
an enlightened conscience. Happy would it have been, had 

* Leavett's Yoyage, in Maine Historical Collections. 
t Williamson's History of Maine. 



8 



their immediate posterity carried out the principies of the 
Pilgrims, instead of subjecting men to fines, disabilities, and 
scourging for matters of faith. 

The colony at Plymouth being firmly established and 
known in England, the spírit of emigration and colonizaron 
aróse, and induced, in the conrse of a few years, several at- 
tempts to settle upon the rñain land and islands of the coast, 
under the diíferent charters obtained from the crown. 

Among the patented grants, was that which received the 
ñame of "The Province of Laconia." This province was 
described by travelers and novelists, as abounding with all 
that is beautiful on land, and in woods and waters. It in- 
cluded in the patent, all the conntry between the Merrimac 
and Kennebec, and extended from the Atlantic to the Ca- 
nadá and Iroquois and toward the great lakes.* 

Other settlements were attempted from year to year, each 
aíFording encouragement to another. Among the earliest 
successftü attempts, was that commenced at the mouth of 
the Saco in 1623. But so little was eífected, that the settle- 
ment of Biddeford and Saco, are regarded as bearing date 
1630-31, a hundred and twenty years prior to the settlement 
of this town. though but eight miles distant from them. 

Two hundred and twenty years ha ve passed since perma- 
nent settlements were established on our coast. From that 
time to the present, Maine has continued steadily to advance 
in population, wealth and intelligence. Instead of log habi- 
tations, and forts for defense against their savage foes, are to 
be seen, in numerous towns and cities, stately dwellings, and 
costly edifices devoted to the liberal arts, to literature and 
Teligion. 

The review of these changes, should excite grateful emo- 
tions in every bosom. and induce a just appreciation of the 
toils and sufferings of those, who, under the guidance of an 
all-wise Providence, were the honored instruments of hand- 
ing down to us, an invaluable inheritance. 
* Williamson's History. 



Right to settle tliis town, like that of her six Narragan- 
sett sisters, was awarded to individuáis, who fonght in the 
war with the Narragansett Indians, in 1675, which ended in 
a complete triumph and annihilation of the whole tribe. 

The Narragansett country embraced what is now the 
southwesterly part of Rhode Island, and northeasterly part 
of Connecticut. Between the Narragansett Indians and the 
existing government of New England, there had been a good 
understanding; the tribe having surrendered their country to 
the colonists, by treaty. But, as Cotton Mather remarks, 
" they broke their articles of peace in divers instances, and 
plotted a war with the English, in the spring of 1676, when 
the leaves of the trees should befriend them.* Their design 
coming to the knowledge of the Commissioners of the Uni- 
ted Colonies, it was resolved in the depth of winter, to send a 
vigorous expedition to subdue them. An army of a thousand 
men, afterward increased to fifteen hundred, was raised, un- 
der the command of the gallant and truly honorable Josiah 
Winslow, Esq., and marched into the Narragansett country. 
On the 12th of December, 1675, they arrived there and im- 
mediately captured about forty Indians, among whom was 
one by the ñame of Peter. This man being oífended with 
his own people, befriended the whites, and became so f'aithful 
and useful a guide, that it was afterwards said, they 
could not have succeeded without him. The army, how- 
ever, suífered not a liítle, while waiting for the Connecticut 
troops, especially by the surprisal of a remote garrison. be- 
longing to a man by the ñame of Bull, where fourteen per- 
sons were baited to death by the terrible dogs. 

As soon as the Continental forces arrived, the whole army 
marched on the 18tli, by break of day, through cold and 
snow, encountering diíñculties for eighteen miles, enough to 
have damped any ordinary fortitude. The Indians had a 
fort upon an island, of five or six acres in the midst of a hor- 
rid swamp, which, besides its pallisadoes, had a wall, or 

* Indians fight in ambush, frora behind trees. bushes and fences. 



10 



hedge, a rod thick encompassing it. The entrance to the 
fort, was upon a large tree over the water, where but one 
man couid pass at a time, and this entrance guarded in such 
a manner, that no one couid attempt to enter, without perish- 
ing. But by the help of Peter, they found a vulnerable gap. 
the only place which presented any hope of eífecting an en- 
trance, and that not without extreme danger. As the Colo- 
nial troops advanced towards this gap, they felt that the re- 
sult must be victory or death. The first attempt was fatal 
to six of their brave captains, which only served to fire the 
rage of the soldiers, who succeeded in compelling the enemy 
to fly from their shelters and abandon the fort, which was 
immediately burnt. No less than seven hundred Indian 
warriors, were slain in the battle, besides three hundred, who 
died of their wounds, and oíd men and women and children 
a great number; while but eighty-five of the English were 
slain, and a hundred and fifty wounded. The battle lasted 
six hours, and was one of the most sanguinary and bloody : 
besides which, the severity of the cold, so disabled some hun- 
dreds of those brave fellows, that they were entirely unfit 
for duty." 

Such, fellow citizens, was the price paid for the seven Nar- 
ragansett towns. Such were the héroes to whom those town- 
ships were granted, in reward of their perils and suíferings, 
in that terrible war, to the number of eight hundred and forty, 
who belonged to Massachusetts. To these brave and chiv- 
alrous soldiers and their heirs, the legislature of the province 
deemed it equitable to make grants of unimproved land. 

Accordingly, two townships were granted in theyear 1728, 
and five more in 1732. These seven townships, were grant- 
ed on the usual conditions, that "the grantees should meet 
within two months from the date of the act, to organize each 
proprietary of one hundred and twenty persons — to settle, at 
least sixty families within seven yeais — to settle a learned, 
Orthodox minister — to erect a meeting-house — to clear a 
certain number of acres, and to reserve a certain proportion 



11 



of the townsitip for the use of schools and the first settled 
minister."* 

These conditions being agreed to, the grantees held a meet- 
ing on "Boston Common, on the 6th June, 1733, and form- 
ed themselves hito seven sepárate societies or proprietariesof 
one hundred and twenty persons. Three persons from each 
company, were then chosen to make out a list of the grant- 
ees, and to assign a township to each proprietary. The sev- 
en committees, of three each, afterward met at Luke Verdy's 
in Boston, October 17th, of the same year, and made the sev- 
eral assignments as follows:" 

Narragansett, No. 1. Now Buxton, on Saco river; 2. At 
Wachusett, adjoining Rutland, Mass. ; 3. Now Amherst, N. 
H., on the Souhegan river; 4. Now Goífstown, N. H. ; 5. 
Now Merrimac and Bedford, N. H., on the Meirimac river, 

6. Now Templeton, N. H., formerly Southtown; 7. Now 
Gorham, on the Presumpscott river. 

Tiie tract of country constituting this township and No. 

7, lies between, and running from the Saco to the Presump- 
scott, beginning at that part of Biddeford which is now Saco, 
and running on the head of Saco, Scarborough and West- 
brook, to the Presumpscott. No. 1, now Buxton, was as- 
signed to Philemon Dañe, of Ipswich, and one hundred and 
nineteen others, belonging to Ipswich, Rowley, Newbnry, 
Haverhill, Salisbury, Methuen, Hampton, Greenland and 
Berwick. The committee were, Philemon Dañe and John 
Gaines, of Ipswich, and Colonel Joseph Gerrish, of New- 
bury. The township was surveyed in 1733, and reported in 
February, 17344 

The first meeting of the proprietors was held at Captain 
John Hale's at Newbury Falls, when Colonel Gerrish acted 
as Moderator, and John Hobson, Esq., was appointed Clerk; 

*John Farmer, Esq., in Maine Historical Collections, Vol. 2. 
f Joh.n Farmer, Esq. % Ibid. 

Note. Douglas, in his Summary, and Hutehinson, in his History óf Mas- 
sachusetts, says that nine townships were voted, but only seven granted, to 
the Narragansett soldiers and their heirs. 



12 



who, with Colonel Joseph Coffin, of Newbury, Colonel Tris- 
tram Jordán, of Saco, Deacon Thomas Bradbury, and the 
Honorable Jobn Woodman, of Buxton, were elected to fill 
that office, till the proprietors should cease to act in that ca- 
pacity. At this and subsequent meetings. measures were 
taken for the occupation or disposal of their rights, as by law 
provided. But no settlement was attempted till 1740 or 
1741, when Deacon Amos Chase, from Newbury, Joseph 
Simpson, Nathan Whitney, with Messrs. Gage and Bryant, 
entered the plantation and began to fell the trees and build 
log cabins, for shelter.* 

The proprietors feeling an interest for the settlement of the 
town, thought it their duty to make early provisión for the 
Christian instruction of the settlers. With this desire before 
them, it was " resolved on the llth April, 1739, that Deacon 
John Fellows, Nathan Simonds, Samuel Hovey, Isaac Ap- 
pleton, and Captain Nathaniel Mighill, be a committee to 
agree with some person, or persons, to build a meeting-house, 
for the public worship of God in said township, forty by 
thirty feet, of convenient height, to have on tiers of galleries, 
to state a place, and order said place to be cleared to set said 
house on, and also to have said house finished by the las* 
day of September, 1740." On the llth of June following, 
the above vote was reconsidered and made void. At the 
samemeeting, it was "Ordered, That Messrs. Mighill, Ap- 
pleton and Chase, be authorized to agree with some person 
or persons, to clear some land on the westerly end of the first 
or second lot, known by the letter D in the first división in 
said township, and to build a meeting-house of thirty by 
twenty-five and nine feet stud, of hewn timber, the roof to be 
boarded and short-shingled, and to be finished and fit to 
preach in, by the last day of September, 1740." f 

The execution of this resolve was delayed, on account of 
a threatened French war, tillOctober 20, 1742, when the fol- 



* JProprietors' Records, f Ibid. 



13 



lowing record was entered: Whereas, there was a commit- 
tee chosen some time passed to build a meeting-house at the 
township laid to the Narragansett soldiers, called No. 1, and 
by reason of the talk oí a French war, it is not yet built, it 
is now voted, that saíd committee shall forthwith go on and 
fully build and complete said meeting-house." In the war- 
rant for a town meeting, May 1, 1744, an article was insert- 
ed to see whether the town would take eíFectual care to gíaze 
the meeting-house." But when the meeting was held it was 
immediately adjourned, and at several other meetings, this 
article was passed over. The proprietors being not unmind- 
ful of the object in building their meeting-house, appointed 
"Samuel Chase, Deacon Samuel Moody, and Deacon Aaron 
Potter, a committee, with power to agree with some suitable 
and learned Orthodox gentleman, to preach to the proprie- 
tors and inhabitants of said plantation." * 

How long Deacon Amos Chase and his associate settlers 
continued in the plantation, is not certain. But it is known 
that all of them left about the commencement of the Cape 
Bretón war., in the year 1745. 

After that time, there were no settlers for four or five years, 
in the course of which time, " tresspasses were committed 
by men of Saco, who cut large quantities of grass and much 
timber." f The following fact will show the dangers to 
which the first settlers were exposed. " Having made some 
clearings, and having crops growing, the year before they 
moved in, they carne up occasionally from the block-house 
to visit their openings. On a certain day, as they carne by 
their little fort, which they had built about a dozen rods from 
the dwelling of Samuel Merrill, they found the gate open, 
which they had left shut. Captain Bradbury being aware 
of danger from the Indians, told them that they "must not 
return in their path." They then struck through the woods, 
forded the river, and returned safe to the block-house, on 
Hollis side. After the war was over, the same Indians carne 

♦Proprietors' Record, flbid. 



14 



into the settlement to trade, and told that when they went by 
the fort, going into the opening, they were frightened and 
hid in the chamber — that they went away forgetting to shut 
the gate, and waylaid the settlers all day by the path.* 
Thus, the simple circumstance of forgetting to shut the gate 
indicated danger, and the directing hand of God saved them 
from the tomahawk and scalping-knife of their savage foes. 

In the fall of 1850, (month and day not now known.) the 
first permanent settlement was commenced, by the seven fol- 
lowing persons and their families, viz: William Hancock, 
John Elden, Samuel Merrill, Timothy Hazelton, Job Rob- 
erts, John Wilson, and Joshua Woodman. In the lapse of 
nine years after, James Thomas and Ephraim Sands, with 
seven others moved into the settlement." f Mr. Hancock, 
from Londonderry, in Ireland, settled on the right side of the 
road, leading from the First Congregational meeting-house 
to Salmón Falls. He was a respectable man, and died in 
the meridian of life, leaving a number of descendants, some 
of whom are yet living. He took the first newspaper that 
carne into town. Samuel Merrill, grand-father of the present 
Deacon Thomas Merrill, of Turner, was from Salisbury, 
Massachusetts. He was a Lieutenant at the battle of Bunk- 
er Hill, under the command of Captain Jeremiah Hill, and 
settled within a quarter of a mile of Salmón Falls, on the 
Saco road, then, and long after, known as the ' Eight Rod 
Road.' He died in. 1822, aged ninety-three years, leaving 
numerous respectable descendants. Timothy Hazelton, who 
was a Deacon of the Church from its organization till his 
death, carne from Bradford, Massachusetts, and settled with- 
in a few rods of the meeting-house. John Elden and Job 
Roberts, were both from Saco, and settled near to Deacon 
Merrill and lived to oíd age. John Elden was an enterpris- 
ing man, and commanded a company at the seige of Boston, 
with honor to himself, and died leaving numerous descend- 
ants in the town. Joseph and Joshua Woodman were broth- 

* Deacon Thomas Merrill, t Ibid. 



15 



ers, from Newbury, Massachusetts, and settled near to Pleas- 
ant Point. Both were leading men and lived to oíd age. 
John Wilson settled on the Beach Plain road, leading from the 
Lower Comer to Saco, but continued only for a short time. 

The first settlers probably located themselves in the south- 
erly part of the town, not from a preference of soil, bnt for 
convenience of market at Saco, and hope of protection from 
their fort, and from the block-house on Hollis side of the 
river, which was commanded by Captain Thomas Bradbury 
for many years.* 

The plantation remained as such until July, 1772, when it 
was incorporated by the General Court of Massachusetts, by 
its present ñame, from Buxton, in England. 

It is a fact worthy of note, that when the township was 
granted, abo ve half of those to whom it was assigned, and 
who were in the Narragansett war fifty years before, were 
still living. At this time, there are descendants of only two 
of the original grantees, residing in the town, viz : Daniel 
Appleton and Joseph Hobson, from Rowley. Note A. 

The first child born in the township, was, (according to a 
private record left by John Elden,) Rebecca Chase, danghter 
of Deacon Amos Chase, who removed from Newbury, Oíd 
town, in 1740 or 1741 ; but remained only a few years, and 
then returned to Newbury. Afterwards he removed to Saco, 
where he died. He drove the first team from the plantation 
to Saco, f Note B. 

The second child was Rebecca Woodman, daughter of 
Captain John Woodman. She was born January 11, oíd 
style, 1751. She was married to Lieutenant Moses Atkin- 
son, 1772, and died February 3d, 1833. The first male 
child born in the town, was Nathan Elden, son of John El- 
den, an original proprietor; the second was Robert Martin, 
of whom the following story is related, as showing the pri- 
vations and sufferings to which the settlers of a new coun- 
try are often Hable- "Mr. Martin became destitute of bread- 

* Maine Histórica! Collections, Yol, 2. t Captain S. Dunnell. 



16 



stuff, at a time when none could be purchased nearer than 
Saco, and resolved to go and obtain some. Of his endeav- 
or to procure relief, he relates the following story: c In the 
morning I got up and milked my cow, and drank some of the 
milk for my breakfast. I then started on foot with bag to 
obtain a supply of food. It was about the last of May. On 
my arrival at Colonel Cutts's in Saco, I related my destitute 
condition, when he promptly supplied me with as much as I 
could carry on my back. I received one bushel of corn, 
twenty-eight pounds of fish, one gallón of molasses, two 
pounds of corlee, and one pound of tobáceo, and started for 
home with my load. When I reached Deep Brook, I laid 
down my burden, and drank of the stream and rested awhile. 
Again I went on with my load and reached as far as Captain 
Bradbury's, where I again unloaded, drank and rested. 
Again shouldering my treasure, I started and soon reached 
my home, and took another draft of milk, which was the 
only food taken for the day. I then shouldered half of my 
corn, travelled two miles to the river, built a small raft, cross- 
ed over, got my grist ground at Ridlon's mili, and returned 
home with my meal. My journey and toil being ended, I 
sat down and waited, while a cake could be baked, and suf- 
fered more than I did through the whole of the day, and felt 
as if I should die of fatigue and hunger.' " * 

The early records of the plantation, and of the town after 
being incorporated, show that the proprietors and settleis 
were not unmindful of the advantages of roads and bridges 
and milis. 

They laid out a number of school distriets, a parsonage lot 
for the use of the first settled minister, and burying-grounds 
for the dead. School-houses were not so early provided. 
The children were taught in a private room in the winter, 
and in a barn in the summer. Even now, quite a number of 
the school-houses need much improvement, both in size and 
construction. There are six public burying-grounds. But 

* Captaüi S. Dunnell. 



17 



while they are • sufñciently capacious, they do not indícate 
that attention and interest which should ever characterize 
places of interment. 

Though the town was incorporated but three years before 
the commencement of the Revolutionary War, the fathers of 
Buxton were not wanting in patriotism and readiness to de- 
fend the cause of civil and religious freedom, for which their 
fathers crossed the broad Atlantic and settled on the bleak 
and desoíate shore of Cape Cod. 

í£ In the month of June, 1774, the town met in their cor- 
porate capacity, and after deliberating upon the oppressions 
and injustiee of the British toward their Colonies in North 
America, they appointed Gapts John Elden and John Lañe, 
Samuel Merill, Samuel Hovey and John Masón, a committee 
to draw up spirited resolutions in behalf of the town and in 
concurrence with the £ Committee of Correspondence' in 
Boston and other towns, "expressive of their sense of the in- 
justice of the British in blocking up the harbor of Boston, and 
other acts which they deemed unjustifiable and subversive of 
American Liberty. A íurther indication of the patriotism of 
the town, appears in their furnishing a quota of men, provi- 
sions and clothing, from time to time for the army, and in 
voting thirty pounds sterling for the relief of the families of 
those who enlisted in the year 1778." * Note C. 

" The ñrst military commanders in the town, were John 
Elden, Samuel Merrill and Thomas Bradbury, who were ap- 
pointed under the authority of the King of England. On 
the day of rejoicing for peace, in 1783, they resigned their 
commissions. On that happy occasion, an iron three-poun- 
der was hauled up from Saco, and fired near the Garland 
tavern. Among the rejoicing throng, was a young man by 
the ñame of Andrews, who swung the match. Not being 
acquainted with big guns. hebecame so much alarmed at the 
spring of the gun, which was heavily charged and become 

* Proprietors' Records. 

2 



1S 



warm, that he fainted from fear, and had to be nursed and 
wrapp'd in flannel to recruit him." 

Joseph Woodman, jr., Samuel Merrill, jr., and Gibeon El- 
den were the first commissioned ofíicers under the Constitu- 
tion of Massachusetts; not long after, the militia of the town 
was divided into two companies, and Capt. Hugh Moore, 
Mark Rounds and John Smith were appointed in the second 
company, leaving Capt. Bradbury who commanded the 
Blockhouse, in charge of the south división." * 

In the necessities of the settlers, their men were sometimes 
obliged to leave their families without a guard. 

It happened at a certain time that all the men being ab- 
sent for a day and a night, some circumstances, imaginary 
or real, occurred, inducing the women to think that their sav- 
age foes were approaching. At that anxious moment, the 
wife of Capt. Elden, alone maintained her self-possession and 
courage. She did her best to inspirit her female associates, 
assured that flight would be vainly attempted, but stratagem 
might succeed. Mrs. Elden was a fearless woman, and could 
well assume a character when occasion called for it. Her 
plan was matured in a moment. She resolved npon a dem- 
onstration, which should deceive the foemen and induce their 
belief that the men had returned, or had receired a reinforce- 
ment which would meet them with substantiál argumenta. 
Accordingly, Mrs. Elden, assuming her husband's authority, 
and arraying herself in some oíd regimentáis and a rusty 
sword, bid every other woman and daughter follow her. She 
had distributed two or three musitéis to those who could 
handle them, and some oíd bayonets to others, commanding 
and encouraging them to prepare themselves as best they 
could. The preparations being made, she raised a feigned 
stentorian voice in word of command. as to ofíicers and sol- 
diers, at the same time parading the premises for the purpose 
of deceiving their red foes. In this manner with short in- 
tervals of rest by turns, they passed the night in long sus- 

* Dea. Thos. Merrill. 



19 



pense and the succeeding day, till their anxiéty was reíieved 
by the retum of their husbands and brothers, who were 
taken by surprise when they found every female in the cos- 
tume of a warrior.* 

Amidst all the triáis and hardships of new settlers in a new 
country, the people of this town were not unmindfuí of their 
obligations to their God, and the concerns of their souls and 
the souls of posterity to come after them. 

Accordingly they weresupplied, generally, with the preach- 
ing of the gospel, at the expense of the proprietors, until the 
incorporaron of the town. The first Meeting House was 
built of logs. at the cost of the proprietors, and stood about 
a mile from what is now the Lower Comer, toward Salmón 
Falls. This house being, after a few years, insufficient to 
accommodate the people, it was resolved, " July 22, 1760, to 
raise twelve shillings, lawful money, on each right, to be 
laid out in building another meeting house, on or near the- 
Home lot, on letter G, saidhouse to be forty-five feet long 
and thirty feet wide, of a proper stud. Atthe same meeting^ 
Joseph Woodman, Joshua Leavitt and Jeremiah Hill, were 
empowered to exchange land with John Colé, to set the 
meeting house on, and if need be, to lay out the money rais- 
ed in building the same. On the 12th November following, 
the oíd meeting house was given to Samuel Merrill, by vote 
of the town, in consideration of his having opened his dwell- 
ing for meetings on the Lord's Day. Two hundred pounds, 
lawful money, were appropriated for building the meeting 
house, and what should remain, to be laid out to glaze and 
ground-pin it." f 

The third meeting house was about as large as the present 
house, high studded and situated on the same lot, which is 
now occupied by the Congregational house. "It was íinish- 
ed outside, but had only plank seats laid on blocks, and so 
continued till the year ¿ 1790, when it wasrepaired and filled 
with pews." % 

* Capt. S. Dunnel. f Proprietors Records. J Dea. Tlios* Merrill. 



20 



The first preacher, employed by the proprietors was the 
Rev. Joshua Tufts, who continued their spiritual Guide íor 
two years. His successors were Mr. Thompson and Mr. 
White, neither of whom was regarded as being settled. No 
church was formed until March 1763, when seven persons 
adopting an orthodox creed, were publicly recognized as " The 
Congregational Church in Narraganset, No. One." 

On the same day Mr. Paul Coffin was ordained their pas- 
tor, upon a salary of £50 sterling — £100 lawful money and 
sixty acres of land setüeme?it, to which was added a pledge 
for reasonable additions to his regular salary, as should be 
needful and convenient." * 

Another sixty acre lot was provided as a Parsonage^ both 
lots being conveniently situated in the vicinity of the meet- 
ing house. 

On the occasion of the " ordination, the usual number of 
clergymen was invited, but on account of the unusual depth 
of snow at the time, only four were present. Those who did 
attend, traveled with snow-shoes. Messrs. Little and Hem- 
menway with their delegates and other gentlemen, attempt- 
ing the most direct course from Kennebunk to the Block 
House, passed so far to the left of their true course, as to pre- 
vent their reaching Saco the first day. They were, there- 
fore obliged to remain one night in the woods, and suffered 
from the inclemency of the weather and want of food." f 

"Atthe ordination, Rev. Mr. Fairfield prayed, Rev. Mr. 
Little preached the sermón, Rev. Mr. Morrill gave the charge 
and Rev. Mr. Hemmenway presented the Right Hand of fel- 
lowship; after which, the council and strangers present par- 
took of a plentiful entertainment, provided at the expense of 
the proprietors, toward whom a very high sense of gratitude is 
recorded, for their generosity inerecting a spacious meeting 
house, and settling a gospel minister to preach the word of 
life." * 

# y * 

* Proprietors Records. t Charles Coffin, Esq. 



21 

j. 

Dr. Coíñn was born in Newbury, Mass., was graduaíed at 
Harvard University, and as he sometimes remarked, in allu- 
sion to the capture of Quebec. he was a gradúate of the glo- 
rious year 1759. He was a gentleman of good natural íai- 
ents — of sound learning, and well read in his profession. 
He possessed much kindness of heart, was distinguised in 
the parish as a peace-maker, and by his amiable and digni- 
fied deportment, secured the respect and esteem of all 
around hirn. Being blest with a vigorous constitution, he 
was able to continué his pastoral labors for a much longer 
period than the averge of his ministerial brethren. His pas- 
toral dudes were conñned to one church from his ordinatiom 
until the 6th of June 1821, when he was called to surrender 
his account of a sixty years ministry, in the eighty-fifth year 
of his age. He was buried in the original cemetery of the 
town in the rear of the Congregational meeting house, leav- 
ing nine children, three of whom still survive." 

" The last four years of his life, his infirmities required 
that he should ha ve a colleague, and accordingly the Rev. 
Levi Loring was settled as júnior pastor, and continued till 
July Sth, 1835, when he requested and received a dismission. 
Rev. Benjamin Rice who was next settled, remained the pas 
torof the church for about seven years. The pulpit was then 
supplied for nearly ñ ve years by Rev. Messrs. Baker and Mer- 
rill, until near the settlement of the present pastor, Rev. Jo- 
seph Bartlett, who was ordained Oct. 7, 1847. 

The numberof church members gathered while Dr. Coffin 
was pastor, was seventy seven. The whole number of mem- 
ber received since its organization up to the present time, is 
two hundred and thirty-two. The present number of the church 
seventy-one. The largest number added to the church in one 
year, was twenty-five. in the year 1831 — sixíeen in 1818 — 
fourteen in 1842. 

The number of marriages solemnized by Dr. Coffin was 
four hundred and eighty-four." * 

* Church. Records. 



22 



The second church gathered in the town was recognized 
on the ISth of Dec. 1799 and entitled "The Baptist Church 
in Buxton and Saco." It was composed of ten persons dis- 
missed from the Baptist church in Coxhall (now Lyman). 
Their first pastor was the Rev. Abner Flanders who carne 
from Salisbury, N. H., was ordained on the 12th of Oct* 
1802, and continued the pastor of the church un til 4th of May 
1829, when bis feeble health obliged hirn to desist from con- 
stant preaching. He lived however, and preached occasion- 
ally, until the 17th of June, 1847, when he fell asleep in 
Christ, aged seventy years, and was called to give up the ac" 
count of his stewardship. His disposition as a man and his 
character as a christian and a minister, insured for him the 
esteem and confidence of all who knew him. Their next 
settled pastor, was Rev. William Bailey, who was ordained 
April lst 1840 and dismissed March lOth, 1844; his Jabors 
being much blest. and fifty three were added to the church 
upon their profession of faith in Christ. Their third and last 
pastor, was Rev. H. B. Gower, who was ordained July 1848 
and dismissed upon his own request, Oct. 1849. Rev. Adam 
Wilson supplied the pulpit the principie part of the time for 
several years. At the present time they are without a settled 
pastor, but have a constant supply by Rev. N. W. Williams. 
The whole number added to the church since 1799, is one 
hundred and seventy-five. Present number ninety-five.^ 

The third church instituted in the town, is the First Free 
Will Baptist, whose meeting house at Moderation Falls, is 
íhe largest in the town. £í This church was organized about 
the year 1800, previous to whicli, however, it was organized 
as a branch of the Gorham Church. Their first meeting 
house was erected in the year 1806 and went by the ñame of 
the Brook meeting house, and continued in use, until the 
present one was built and dedicated in the month of June, 

* Church Records. 



23 



1834, and furnished with the first bell in town. It was en- 
larged in the year 1847, and now contains eighty pews. 

Among their early ministers were Elders McCorrison, 
Clay and Hobson, and later, we find the ñames of A. Hob- 
son, C. Small, S. F. Chaney, J. N. Sinclair, and the present 
incumbent, J. M. Bailey, pastors. 

Thischurch takes thepublished "Treatiseon the Faith of 
the Free Will Baptists," as a fair expression of their tenets. 
They hold themselves bound to promote the cause of Tem- 
perance, and the Benevolent enterprises of the day. Several 
reviváis have been enjoyed by them. In 1830, 28 were ad- 
ded to the church. In 1842, about 60, and since that time, 
about 25. Present number of Commimicants 150.'' * 

The Second Free Will Baptist Church was the fourth in 
the order of formation. "It was organized April 8th, 1834, 
consisting of eleven members, being received by dismission 
from the first church of the same denomination in this town. 
This church was. under the pastoral care of Eider Jonathan 
Clay, from its organization un til his decease on the 20th of 
February 1849, a period of fifteen years. Eider Clay was 
succeeded by Eider James Crockett, the present pastor. The 
present number of members is seventy-nine." f 

The fifth church, is the Methodist Episcopal, which meets 
in the north part of the town. Methodism was introduced 
into Maine in 1794 — a Circuit wasformed in 1795, embrac- 
ing ali the territory of the State, west of the Androscoggin 
river, and Elias Hall wasinvited topreach in Buxton, which 
he did once, in the same year. In 1799 a Class was formed 
with Hugh Moore for leader. In 1800 the Circuit was di- 
vided and the part which included Buxton, was called u Fal- 
month Circuit." In 1802 the labors of Asa Heath were great- 
ly blessed — prosperity attended the society in Buxton, and 
a meeting house was built. From 1816 to 1847, the Circuit 
was gradual ly lessened in its territory, until it included only 



* Rey. J. M. Bailey from Church Records. f Church Records. 



24 



Buxton. In 1848 the oíd meeting house was taken down and 
anotherbuiít on the site of the oíd one. The church now rmm- 
bers~eighty-six members and is enjoying some prosperity. * 

All the churches in the town, have been and now are Evan- 
gélica^ being Congregationalist, Baptist, Free Will Baptist, 
and Methodist, and are liberally provided with meeting 
houses ; the whole nnmber being eight, in good repair and 
two oí them having bells. Two of the houses, being four 
miles apart, are occupied alternately, for the convenience of 
the Congregational society, and two of the Methodist houses 
are occupied but a part of the time. 

" The first Post Office in the town, was established at the 
Lower Comer in a small store opposite Capt. David Coffin's 
house; and Paul Coffin, jr. was appomted Post Master."f 

At the present time there are three Post Offices; one at the 
Lower Córner, one at the Center, and one at Moderation 
Falls. 

The first Physician was Dr. Sanborn, who carne into the 
town in 1791, and tarried but a short time. He was succeed- 
ed by Dr. Roy al Brewster. The third was the late Dr. Ba- 
con, who, though almost entirely deaf, continued his practice 
till near his death in 1S48, availing himself of the benefit of 
an ear trumpet. At the present time, their are three physi- 
cians practicing in the town. 

The first Representative of the town in the Legislature of 
Mass., was Jacob Bradbury, Esq., who was elected in 1781, 
and enjoyed the suffrages of his fellow citizens for a number 
of years afterwards. The present Representative in the Leg- 
islature of Maine, is Stephen Lañe, Esq. 

The Hon. Judge John Woodman, who deceased about 
twenty-three years since, was a citizen of this town, a judge 
of the Court of Common Pleas, and a Senator in the Gene- 
ral Court of Mass. for a number of years. 

The first office opened in town for the practice of Lawj 

* Churcli Records by Eider Josiah. Hooper. t Dea. Thos. Merrill. 



25 



was by Barker Curtís, Esq., who shortly afterwards remov- 
ed, and was succeeded by Joseph Adams and Charles Coíñn 
Esqs. 

At the present time, it is an encouraging indication of np" 
rightness in the transaction of business, that Charles E. Weld, 
Esq., is the only pracíitioner of law in the town. 

The assignment of Narragansett No. 1 presented encour- 
aging prospects to the proprietors and settlers, from the qual" 
ity of its land — its water privileges and its proximity to 
neighboring markets. As a township, Buxton possesses a 
soil, se¿ond to no other in the county of York, andif instead 
of entering largely into the business of teaming, the yeomen 
of the place had more scientifically and throughly cultivated 
their farms, and early ingrafted their orchards with the 
choicest scions, agriculture would havebeen far in advance 
of its present state, and the aggregate valué and profitof their 
land been much above the present. 

The rirst SaW Mili, of which the Records give any ac- 
count, was provided for in 1740, by vote of the proprietors, 
ten years before the permanent settlement of the town. On 
the 18 th of June of that year, in a legal meeting of the pro- 
prietors íc £80, oíd tenor, were voted to Mr. Samuel Chase, 
to enable him to build a saw mili, at a place called Gaine's 
Brook, upon condition that it be ready for use by the first 
day of March following, to have a convenient mill-yard of 
about two acres, for the use of the proprietors to lay their 
logs and half their timber. Mr. Chase was to have liberty 
to build a house and barn on the lot— to make a dam on 
both sides of the brook, with liberty to flow the meadows 
above the mili, with one dam, at all times, forever, here- 
after; and to saw timber for any oí said proprietors to the 
halves, at specified times of the year. The whole lot, mili 
and dam to be secured to said Chase forever, excepting only, 
that if he should fail to fulfill the agreement, the whole should 
then revert to the proprietors."* 

* Proprietors Records. 



26 



The first grist mili was built on " Little River," opposite to 
Daniel Leavitt's mili, where he has now in use thesame run 
of stones which were used in the original mili. 

The first milis on Saco River, above Salmón Falls, were 
built at Moderation Falls in the year 1795, and the first at 
the Bar shortly afterward. f 

" The first glass window in the plantation was procured by 
Rev. Mr. CorTin, who obtained from Saco a single pane of 4 
by 6 inches, which he set in a board and placed in his 
study." % Some time afterward, "he pnrchased four panes 
of 7 by 9 in Boston, at one shilling each, which were set in 
a sash and placed in his house." 

" The first public school was established in the winter of 
1761-2, under the tuition of Mr. afterward Rev. Silas Moody, 
a gentleman much approved as an instructor of youth, and 
highly esteemed as a man and a minister. When any person 
would speak highly of a teacher, it was considered suíficient 
praise to say that he was next to Parson Moody." § At a 
later period, besides severa! District schools, two Grammar 
schools were established, one at the Center and one at the 
Lower Córner; the latter in the year 1799, the formerin 1800 
which were taught through the whole of the year. There 
are now eighteen School Districts in the town, the longest of 
whose terms is four months in the winter and four months in 
the summer. 

A large proportion of the school houses remain of the oíd 
model. A new and excellent school house is now nearly 
completed at the Center, surmounted with a cupola and belb 
and has an ante-room for study and recitation. $1200 have 
been annually raised by tax for manyyears, which, added to 
the town's proportion of the Bank tax, gives the sum of $1500 
for the support of the public schools, besides which there are 
several prívate schools a part of the year. 

The healthiness of the town may be inferred from the lon- 
gevity enjoyed by a large number of its inhabitants. The 
t Dea. Thos. Merrill. J Rev. Mr. Loring. § Charles Coffin, Esq. 



27 



earliest settlers are known to have lived, generally, to a 
great age; and at the present time the proportion of oíd people 
is thought to be equal to that of the most favored locations. 
The oldest man now living among us is Solomon Smith, who 
is about 90 years, besides whom are Zenas Paine, Esq., John 
Palmer, John Carne, and Wm. Boulter, all aged 84, the last 
named being able to take the field and swing the scythe in 
the summer of 1849. ^ 

The oldest woman is Mrs. Sarah Ridlon, now 91 years. 
Next to her is Mrs. Libbey, who is 83 or 84 years, besides 
which, are many persons in the town from 70 to 75 years. 

The early inhabitants were not without calamities. Three 
remarkably dry summers folio wed each other, which so short- 
ened their crops as al most to occasion a famine, and caused 
extensive Jíres in the woods and among the poor log houses, 
occasioning much distress. In the year 1783, the lOth of 
Augnst, there was a great and destructive/rosí, and in 1785 
thegreatest freshet which had then been known, causingmuch 
damage and rain to milis and bridges. * 

The state of moráis in the town, whose population hasbut 
little increased for many years, has been regarded as com- 
paring favorably with similar towns, especially since Tem- 
perance has been the order of the day. 

"From the commencement of the town and down to a late 
period, the use of intoxicating drinks was, as generally 
throughout the country, almos t universal ; and it must be ad- 
mitted, that the prosperity and happiness of the town have 
been impeded by the intoxicating bowl. Until about the year 
1823 or 4. all classes of society thought ardent spirits to be 
useful, and adapted to all seasons and occupations, and indis- 
pensable as a token of friendshlp and respect. 

One instance of brutal intemperance and reform may be 
useful to relate, in the case of Mr. John Boynton, who lived 
a few rods from the ancient public house kept by the well 
known Mrs. Garland. Mr. Boynton was unusually expert 

* Dea. Thos. Merrill. 



28 



+ 



as a farrier and smith, and quick with his hammer. He is 
said to have made eight nails at one heat of the rod, and to 
cast and shoe a yoke of oxen in fifteen minutes. This expert 
workman (as thousands have done) contracted the habit of 
drunkenness by visiting the tavern, till his raging appetite so 
brutified him 3 and destroyed all self respect and regard to 
propriety that he sometimes went to bed with his boots on. 

But reason and temperance gained the victory, and the poor 
brute again appeared as a man. After a severe struggle, he 
mastered his craving appetite (though living cióse by the 
tavern), and firmly adopted the only safe principie — ■ " Total 
abstinence from all intoxicating drinks." 

It happened on a certain day, that he badly injured his 
leg at Salmón Falls milis, when the indispensable remedy was 
immediately sought and procured. As the fiery stream was 
abo u t to be applied, he exclaimed, " Not one drop of the poi- 
son shall come near my flesh,' and held his integrity till death 
brought the "end of earth," at an advanced age. This case, 
which occurred fifty years since, was an exception to the gen- 
eral rale, where intemperance abounded thronghout society, 
and advanced with long and rapid strides. The venerable 
pastor, who then oíñciated at the altar of God, often lamen ted 
that the highest enjoyment of yoimg men seemed to be in re- 
sorting to some place where the intoxicating cup was freely 
supplied, — and strange to tell, the deadly dranght was tobe 
had hy his own door, where least it shonld have been expected. 

The Rev. Mr. Loring introduced the tee-total pledge, and 
was its first signer — James Emery the second, and Daniel 
Appieton the third; the latter being Presiden t of the Tem- 
perance Society in the town. The lovers of and dealers in 
strong drink then sought to eíFect by ridicule, what they could 
not do by argument. But despite their ridicule and opposi- 
tion, success attended the laudable efforts of the "cold-water 
mén," till the venders of the burning, scathing fluid were 
compelí ed to carry on their nefarious trafíic in a secret way, 
and under false and ridiculous ñames: and even now it is 
continued, in a few instances, in direct opposition to law. 



29 



In the pious and benevolent work of temperance the fair 
daughters of Buxton have a just claim for a share in the hon- 
or of this reform. They carne up boldly to the pledge, and 
pledged themselves not to deal with those who trade in ar- 
dent spirits. The happy results of this reform have been or- 
der in society and in publio meetings, instead of confusión, 

noise, and rioting, which once degraded the character and 
marred thepeace of the community." * 

It may be matter of surprise to many now present, but it 
is a fact in the history of this town, that three of our unfor- 
tunate fellow beings were unjustly held in slavery in this 
liberty-loving town, by three of the early settlers. " It is re- 
lated of one of them, that being hardly dealt with, she un- 
dertook to reason the case with her mistress, and declared 
that she understood both to be made by the same Creator, — 
that he might have put the moon-tan on the mistress as well 
as on the slfcve, if he pleased ; and, therefore, mistress had 
nothing to boast of, and no right to abuse her." 

Of another case, a person now living among us relates that 
the slave suffered for want of suitable lodging and food 
being obliged to sleep in the chimney córner in cold winter 
nights, and sometimes, impelled by hunger, he had come to 
her father's shed and eat the crusts that were reserved for the 
swine." * 

At " Pleasant Point" a considerable amount was expended 
in the year 1831 by a Company, chiefly in Boston, who pro" 
posed to engage in the manufacture of cotton, wool, iron, and 
steel, and to invest about half a million of dollars in the en- 
terprise. Some progress was made in the erection of a dam, 
&c, at the cost of the Company. But no further progress 
has been made, although the water power oífers strong in- 
ducements to its use. 

But it is time to relieve your patience, and I will do it in 
a few words of appropriate reflection. 
* Capt. D. Appleton. Note C. 



30 



The history that we have now surveyed calis npon us to 
tread lightly upon the ashes of our revered fathers. 

It was yoar ancestors who dared to encounter the toils of 
en te ring and clearing a wilderness, where the war-hoop of the 
savage was often heard, and forts, with arms and ammunition, 
were indispensable to their protection while breaking up the 
soil, planting their seed, and gathering their harvests. 

To those heroic men belongs the praise of settling this fer- 
tile región, and laying the foundations of all the good institu- 
tions and privileges which their posterity enjoy. 

Our ancestors ! how did they expose themselves on the 
field of battle, and pour ont their blood in defense of rights, 
natural and inalienable as the gifts of God. 

Let me, then, by the ashes which repose beneath this soil, 
cali upon you who are aged to transmit unstained and unim- 
paired to your heirs, the fair and dear bought inheritance of 
civil and religious freedom. Let me cali upon ^ou who are 
fathers and mothers to teach your children the true valué of 
Uberty^temperance, and knoivledge ; and above all, and more 
than.afc-let me intreat that, as the worthy proprietors of this 
township early laid the foundations of an Evangelical Church 
and Ministry, the same may be preserved by your example 
and your influence. 

Finally, I cali upon you, young men, to remember your pi- 
ous and patriotic ancestry, whose inheritance you possess, to 
act worthily your parts, and to hand down, undiminished and 
unsullied, what you have received, to those who shall come 
after you. 

That life can never be thought too short which brings noth- 
ing but shame and sin. Death never does its work too soon, 
when character and usefulness are disregarded. Be it yours } 
all ye who are young, to cherish the gratitude which you owe 
to yom venerable sires, to maintain a reputation for virtue 
and respect for religión, that when the sun of your life shall 
go down, it may set in a cloudless sky. 



NOTES. 



A, p. 15. Major Samuel Appleton, who commanded the Massachu- 
setts troops in the Narragansett war, emigrated to that Colony at an early 
period of its history, being of the third generation of the family in Eng- 
land. His right to a share in the seven townships granted to the Narra- 
gansett soldiers has continued, in part, in the possession of his lineal 
descendants — John, Isaac, Daniel, and his great great grandson, Daniel, 
the last of whom, is now resident on the farm which bears the original 

ñame of Appleton. * yV a . 

B, p. 15. Mrs. Hannah Elden, widow of the late S^n Elden, who J/CCWfói 
owned and occupied a large farm in the center of the town, says that her 

father possessed a record, which she had read and often seen in his desk, 
statingthe birth of the íirst child born in Narragansett Number one. . 

C, p. 17. The ñames of those who served in the Revolutionary war 
were John Lañe, John Lañe, Jr., Daniel Lañe, Jabez Lañe, Isaac Lañe, 
William Merrill (who died at home on furlough), Thomas Bradbury, Eli- 
jan Bradbury, Winthrop Bradbury, William Hancock, Mr. Boynton (sup_ 
posed to have died in the army), Ebenezer Ridlon, Ebenezer Ridlon, Jr.> 
David Ridlon, Samuel Woodsom, John Colé, Joseph Smith (taken by the 
Indians and never returned), Samuel Smith, John Elwell, Benjamín El- 
well, Jeremiah Rolfe, William Davis, Thomas Davis, William Smith ? 
Lemuel Rounds, James Rounds, Thomas Harmon, John Woodman, Na- 
than Woodman, Ephraim Woodman, Joshua Woodman, Moses Atkinson, 
Richard Clay, Jr. (who died in the army), Mr. José (supposed to be the 
only man killed in the army fromthis town), John Hanscom, and Michae^ 
Rand. Some others were out at Cambridge. John Elden, Jr., and Rog- 
er Plaisted were in the battle of Bunker Hill. Daniel Hill was a subal. 
tern under his brother, Jeremiah Hill, of Biddeford. Several others were 
in one winter campaign at New York, among whom were Nathaniel Hil^ 
John Owen, and Asa Simpson.f 

* Capt. Daniel Appleton. f Dea. Thomas Merrill. 



I 



POEM. 



The following Poem was written by Dea. Thomas Merrill, now of Tur- 
ner, grandson of Samuel Merrill, one of the seven who commenced the 
permanent settlement of Narragansett No. 1, in the year 1750 : 

1 

t One hundred years have just passed by, 
A compliment to time ; 
Oíd "Narragansett Number one" , 
Is just now in her prime. 

2 

In youthful days her hardy sons 

Were but a few in number, 
Some strove the forest to subdue, 

And some engaged in lumber. 

3 

The fare was coarse and poor at that, 

Some said they wanted bread ; 
But lived in hopes that they should see 

Some better times ahead. 

4 

Wild beasts of prey and savage men 

Did roam the forest round, 
With gun and mattock side by side, 

They had to till the ground. 



33 

5 

At length carne on the worst of all 

They had to combat with, 
When tiger-like that oíd John Bull 

Did snarl and show his teeth. 

6 

Their sons went out, and fathers too, 
Some stood on Bunker's height, 

Where Warren fell they did contend, 
Through all the bloody fight. 

• 7 

Svveet home and children ! mothers, too, 
Did nerve their arms with strength ; 

As the touched needle courts the pole, 
They gathered round their tent. 
8 

'Tis thought by some, this is what makes 

Our modera Democrat ; 
Our mothers said 'twas more than this 

Our fathers aimed at. 

9 

Then come ye, every patriot son, 

A Free-Soiler or not, 
Drive all the smoky mist away, 

The bondman is forgot. 

10 

Our fathers sipp'd the arderá drink, 

In this they were not wise ; 
Their Sons of Temperance have caused 

A brighter day ío rise. 
3 



11 

Our good oíd Mister Rumseller, 

A day of rest for you : 
Your toil and labor in the field 

Have proved the proverb true, 

12 

That " Time and Tide does never wait 

For any one to stop, 
And he that soweth sparingly 

Shall reap the leaner crop. 

13 

Religión, like the morning hue, 

That blushes in the east, 
Comes flying on the wings of love, 

And brings domestic peace. 

11 

The Sabbath School, and mothers' prayei 

Have raised a mighty band, 
To tell the story of the cross 

To all our favored land. 

13 

Bold infidels shall quail before 

This company of youth, 
And children's children, rising up, 

Be bless'd with Bible truth. 

16 

This precious boon the Gospel brings, 

It makes the forest bloom : 
Where once the savage Indian roamed, 

Is now sweet Freedom's home. 



t 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




